Advertising As Art

Friday, February 27, 2015
Updated and Redelivered: March 3, 2015

References: 
YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXPyIv2WLdI
Behind the scenes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XHvuKQNMfk
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/Vistaprint
Analysis -  http://great-ads.blogspot.com/2015/02/vistaprint-celebrates-bond-of-father.html
        

Robert Keane
CEO, founder
Vistaprint, Lexington, Massachsuetts

Dear Mr. Keane: 

Congratulations on your 20 year legacy.  Most people, including my wife and I, just shut it down and move on.  The question for all of us is, once you start, how do you take your equity out but leave the heart in, make it stronger, and gracefully depart and be the mentor - wise counselor thereafter.    

Your advertising campaign with Charlie Barrett is sensational.

Of course, Charlie will face the same problem his father faced when he (Charlie) went off for greener pastures.  We would all cry if our legacy walked out the door. Now that he's back, what can Charlie do to take Barrett & Sons to the next level?    ...how will he handle his dad's aging?  ...how about his own children?   ...franchising?  ...IPO?  You could build on this advertising campaign and have Charlie do it all. 

Perhaps there is some product that Charlie can create that every grocer in the world wants to carry.  Stonefire Tandoor Baked Naan is a fine example (it's a favorite of mine). If you, Vistaprint, keep all these developments in house (as you have done to date), and if you have your viewing public help Charlie come up with that "perfect" product, you all could end up diversifying!